The Feast of GOD

Hummm… the jet engines send me further into the deep blue of night. Flight attendants bustle and I am amused by the two technical men behind me. My seat partner is deep into her summertime novel and smiles a knowing glance as I stifle a yawn..

*Sigh*

..all this cramped air. I nibble my cinnamon biscotti to sweeten the blithe pungent roast of coffee, and there it is in the twenty-fifth chapter of Isaiah: this exciting dimension of now, that it is about God bringing glory to Himself and us trusting that salvation.

Cities of ruthless nations will revere You. For You have been a defense for the helpless,

A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..

The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,

And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

The LORD has spoken. Death gone. And HE is that feast. God invites us to feast. The flesh and blood, for all people and death swallowed up, and all these tears wiped away by the hand of God. Because He declares it so. The Lord, HE is God.

And it will be said in that day, ”Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation (verse 9).

And so I know. Again. But more this time. WOW-ed. GOD IS full of Awe, grand awe. Our waiting is nothing in light of HIS saving. Because HE is God. If nothing else proved in my life I want to say, “Wow GOD”. As worship and as testimony.

God is the Best. So we are glad. And we are in Him; in His salvation.

So as I peer through the misty fog and blinking landing lights, I reiterate the lesson; HE IS my God! So.. I am not. But HE is. HE is the one bringing salvation. It is His Salvation. Ours because He gives it to us in giving Himself.

Yes, “I AM”.  So I can declare with Isaiah,

O LORD, You are my God ; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name ; For You have worked wonders! (verse 1)

Disciples, Part II

Matthew 10 Instructions to Disciples

• Go preach, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
• We need to be wise, not violent. 
• We are as sheep in the midst of wolves. (If we look only at temporary things, we will feel hopeless and maybe even silly.)
• Men will take advantage of and betray us. 
• The world will hate us because of Jesus. 
• Fear only Him Who destroys both body and soul in hell. 
• God misses no minute detail.  
• If we claim Him, He claims us. 
• Jesus brought a sword, and it divides asunder.